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ProtonVPN Review 2019: Why Do You Need It

ProtonVPN was developed by a Harvard physics doctorate and a CERN scientist who was also the brain behind ProtonMail, which is recognized as the largest encrypted mail network globally. Since they have already created the world’s largest encrypted email service, I had really high expectations from their VPN service too. That is why this write-up will focus on ProtonVPN review, it will cover everything you need to know about ProtonVPN service.

The Swiss-based service was launched in mid-2017 and it has been generating quite a lot of attention, especially among those familiar with the ProtonMail project as mentioned above.

Therefore for the purpose of this ProtonVPN review, we have conducted an in-depth analysis of this service, aiming to reveal everything that is right and wrong about this relatively new VPN service.

ProtonVPN might deliver stable and secure connections with unlimited data and bandwidth, but speed is one area which they really need to improve. With a continuously expanding server network, they already have 325 servers in 29 Nations of the planet earth.

ProtonVPN belongs to that elite echelon of VPNs that can help you unblock Netflix and other popular streaming sites such as Hulu. While torrenting is allowed in theory, there are several restrictions that might affect your P2P file sharing experience.

ProtonVPN Interface

ProtonVPN opted for a slightly gloomy colour scheme with a white and light grey font and buttons on a dark grey background. The font could be larger and the whole grey-on-grey idea may not be the best solution, considering that not everyone has perfect vision.

However, we like the uncluttered environment that allows for easy navigation and contributes to the intuitiveness of the software. Whether you prefer a country list or map view of the servers, you can easily identify and choose the desired virtual location and access all the basic features in one or two clicks or taps.

Pros and Cons on ProtonVPN Review

Pros of Proton VPN

====> It has zero log VPN

====> It has free version and 7-day trial available

====> It is a research-backed VPN

====> It works with Netflix

====> It has industry grade-encryption service

====> Highly intuitive

====> Excellent speeds

====> Unlimited bandwidth

====> Secure Core network for increased protection

====> Perfect Forward Secrecy

====> Built-in Tor support

====> P2P support

Cons of Proton VPN

====> No live chat support, here you cannot chat their customer care live, but they do reply you in due time.

====> Torrenting options are limited

====> Poor server speed

====> Those not accept bitcoin

ProtonVPN Supported Devices

ProtonVPN supports Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices. However, some older versions of the Mac operating system have to use tunnelblick, an open source tunnelling software.

On the ProtonVPN free service, you can only have one simultaneous connection, but that goes up to five on the basicand plus plans.

On the visionary plan, you get a generous 10 simultaneous connections, but not many of us would use that many devices at the same time.

Not all features are active on all operating systems. For example, the killswitch doesn’t work even on the most recent Mac operating system and the dropdown menu on the desktop application bar for Mac is a grey shell compared to the more colourful Windows version.

ProtonVPN can also be installed on an AsusWRT router. You will find instructions for how to configure it in the FAQ on the service’s website under the download and setup menu. You will also find instructions for how to install it on Linux using the command line on your computer.

ProtonVPN Pricing Plans and Payment Options

With ProtonVPN, you can choose between 4 plans: Free, Basic, Plus, and Visionary.

The free plan has no annoying ads and no bandwidth limitations, but the speeds are low. You can use the service only on 1 device at a time and you gain access to servers in only 3 select countries. No additional features are available, like Secure Core and P2P and Tor support.

The Basic plan allows you to access servers in all countries, use the service on 2 devices simultaneously, and enjoy high speeds. However, you cannot use any of the advanced features. The price is $4 per month with the monthly subscription.

On the Plus plan, you can use servers in all the countries within the ProtonVPN network, enjoy 5 simultaneous connections, as well as the highest speeds, and connect to the exclusive, high-speed Plus servers. Furthermore, you get to route your traffic through both the Tor network and the Secure Core network. The price is $8 per month with the monthly subscription.

Finally, the Visionary plan, you get all the benefits included in the Plus plan, along with 10 simultaneous connections. The best part is that ProtonMail Visionary is included in the plan, so you get to use it free of charge. The price of the ProtonVPN Visionary plan is $24 per month with the monthly subscription.

No matter which paid subscription you choose, you can cancel at any time and you are covered by the 60-day money-back guarantee. The annual subscriptions come with a 20% discount. Payment options include major credit cards and PayPal.

Does ProtonVPN work in China?

Yes, ProtonVPN should work in China, but only on certain servers. We asked customer support for an up-to-date server list, and they were able to provide us with a selection of more than a dozen servers, including several in the US.

That being said, users posting on ProtonVPN subreddits have voiced concerns about being unable to connect in China as recently as mid-2018.

Conclusion

ProtonVPN is a decent option for expert users, with some powerful features and a lot of control. Less expert users might find it too complex and, perhaps, overkill for their needs. The biggest problem, however, is that it’s expensive beyond the Basic tier. Some might say you can’t put a price on privacy, but we say you could get it for a whole lot less.